The Joy Of Tying Flies

I really like to be catching fish, on artificial flies I tie myself, when no one else is. That way I get to show off my fly tying ability, which isn't anything to brag about, but they don't care about that when it's me catching the fish.

It's amazing how many decide they will start tying their own flies after I explain that's it's not as hard as people let on it is. I've even converted a few of my fly fishing friends from buying to tying.

I started fly tying by first purchasing a fly tying vice, some fly hooks for dry and wet flies. Then I bought a fly tying book so I would know what feathers, yarn and fly tying materials.

I remember the day I first went fly fishing using flies I had tied myself. I was fishing for brook trout. They sure seemed to like them, a great encouragement to continue tying flies.

I had set my alarm for 4:30 so it was still dark when the alarm went off but I am sure I hit the floor and was half dress before my eyes were even open.

Of course my fly fishing gear is always ready and by the door. I don't like wasting time when it's my fishing time. I even have my breakfast ready the night before, all I have to do is put the milk on it and gulp it down.

I have the coffee going while I am stuffing my face so I have a big old mug to take with me and a thermos.

Then I grab my fly fishing gear and I'm off for the day or weekend with a huge smile on my face.

I don't tie all my trout and salmon flies, some are just too involved and I would prefer to purchase those, so I keep all my own flies in a different fly box than I use for the artificial flies I purchase.

Sometimes I do buy flies and then I have an exact copy so I can start tying them on my own, but there are some that I just want but I don't want to be bothered tying and I am okay with that.

I put the flies I tied in my new fly box so that I would know for sure when I was using one I had tied myself. Not that I was so good at tying that I could tell the difference from the store bought flies but I just had to keep my own separate, just to be sure. And maybe a little ego there, it also made it easier to brag to my buddies about tying my own flies. They didn't tie flies at that point.

I know not everyone will be able or even want to tie their own flies so here is a link to getting fly fishing flies at a great price. But do take the time to at least give fly tying a try, you may just get hooked.

It didn't take me long to realize how rewarding tying my own flies would be. Knowing that a big ole trout chose my fly over a real one floating down the stream really strokes my ego.

Even many years later it still feels really cool when that water explodes or a little ripple and your fly goes under.

Well back to the river. I arrived at the river just before day light and picked a spot that I could watch the water and have a nice hot cup of coffee.

Fly Fishing Tip: Take the time to observe what was going on in and around the water and you may just find your fly selection works much better.

It's always seems so quiet and tranquil just before dawn. Then I start to heard the odd bird, probably wondering if I have extra coffee.

As many years I have been fishing I still find it hard to sit and watch trout move without jumping up and starting to cast. I could even hear them before I could see them, they can be quite noisey.

While I have my coffee I browse through my fly boxes and line up the flies I plan to use first.

Well my coffee's gone, so let the day of fly fishing begin...

I guess I will never change, I always love to go with a big old dry fly first just because it gets action most of the time and it's very visual, which I can never get enough of.

I have fishing buddies that still buy their fly fishing flies. Their excuse, it's because they don't think they can make them as good as I do. That's okay though, that's why fly fishing flies are for sale right.

I have been tying flies for myself for about 30 years and still enjoy it more if I catch a nice trout or salmon on my own fly.

Take a minute and check out The Fly Fishing Fanatic's Lens.

The joy of fly fishing is so in my blood that I was sure I would just kick off if I was never allowed to fly fish again. Well I didn't. I have a heart attack that kept me off the water for 4 years. I felt like kicking off but I didn't and eventually my doctor allowed me to go fishing again and life is good again.

New Brunswick has been my home now for the past 27 years and the only thing that would draw me away from here is better fishing grounds. I can live anywhere if the fishing is good enough, even close to my in-laws.

From the time I was just 8 fishing became a big part of my life but it wasn't until I was just past 20 that I started fly fishing. It was the coolest experience and so much easier than I had been led to believe.

My fly fishing life started when I came to visit my great aunt here in New Brunswick Canada back in 1974. I had not seen her since I was 10 and even then it was just for one day. She always sent letters at least once a month while I was growing up under the care of the Children's Aid Society so it was a very emotional reunion to say the least.

While I was visiting my sister's husband asked me if I liked fishing and that was the beginning of my long lasting relationship with fly fishing in New Brunswick that continues to this day. I didn't know how but he taught me in about 10 minutes. It's that easy, yet I have been learn how to be better ever since.

I got myself a Salmon license which covers everything down here and we headed out for a little fly fishing.

I started fly fishing for trout because we could fish right from his backyard. Well not in his backyard but about 4 minutes away.

There was no doubt that this was a hobby that I would carry with me as long as I could life my arms.

My next step was to watch Joe create his own trout and salmon flies. Artificial flies that the trout loved to gobble up. I don't remember the flies he tied that day but I knew I wanted to do that.

Well now I tie my own flies, most of the time and have even taught a few of my fly fishing buddies how to tie flies for themselves, instead of taking mine.